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The Nelson Photo News

 

69

Sportsman of the Month

Joe Clark

Ten years ago, writing in the official programme for the New Zealand surf life saving championships, J. A. Young listed the best six surfers he had known. He gave the crown, in No 1 place, to Joe Clark, then a member of the Maranui Club, now president of the Tahunanui club. Joe has been out of competitive surfing now since 1963 and although he is one of Nelson's best-known citizens, very few people know him as the undoubted national surfing champion that he was. When he stopped swimming for the great Maranui club side in 1954, Joe had a formidable list of honours behind him – New Zealand beltman champion 1939, 40, 49, 50: member of Nelson Shield team, 1937, 38, 39, 47. Indeed, said J. A. Young, had it not been for the war when he missed five years' competition, he would undoubtedly have established all kinds of records. In 1938 he was selected as a member of the New Zealand team to compete against Australia, and he capped this in 1951 when he captained the New Zealand side. When he came to Nelson in 1949, he continued Surfing with the Maranui club, as there was no surf club in Nelson at the time. This was not remedied until 1958, when the Tahunanui club was formed. He was its first president and is still president. Joe's sporting interests have not been confined to surfing, however, He has represented Nelson at Rugby, indoor basketball, swimming and water polo and has been a very good cricketer.

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Joe Clark, keeping a wary eye on Tahuna beach.

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Joe (ringed) competing for New Zealand against Australia in 1951 (he led his team to the first win in a test series against Australia, New Zealand winning the series 15–12).

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The 1951 New Zealand team captained by Joe (ringed)

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The 1938 New Zealand side (Joe is second left, back row)

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Champion beltman